1 DECONSTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS ON MAIN CHARACTERS IN SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN FILM Miranti Anwar (mirantianwar52@yahoo.co.id) Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. Abstract This study aims to find out deconstructive analysis on main characters in Snow White and the Huntsman film. This study uses content analysis as the method of the research. The data are obtained from script of Snow White and the Huntsman film, the books of deconstructive and website. This study focuses to analyze Ravenna and Snow White s characterizations by using Jaques Derrida s deconstructive theory. This study finds that Ravenna is a wicked woman, strong and she gets the decision based on her desire. While, Snow White is a woman who can protect herself and she is an independent woman. In other view, by using deconstructive analysis, this study finds some different things about Ravenna and Snow White s characterizations. Actually, Ravenna has characteristics as a good woman, such as she is a faithful child. She very struggle her family s fate. She is also a weak woman and she gets the decision based on the magic mirror. Furthermore, Snow White is a woman who cannot protect herself and she is a dependent woman. Key words: deconstructive, character, film. Introduction. Fairy tale is a story of imagination which very closes with the people s life. One of fairy tales which is well known by the people is Snow White of fairy tale. It is a classic tale which gets interest from the industry film. One of the films which are adopted from this story is Snow White and the Huntsman film. It shows the story of mirror mirror as in classic tale of Snow White. Nevertheless, director (Rupert Sanders) changes classic tale of Snow White to be a story which shows the darkness and misery.
2 One of things which interest in this film is the binary opposition of Ravenna and Snow White s characterization. Ravenna is dominantly acted as a wicked woman. She has deceived, murdered, taken the throne of King Magnus Kingdom and tortured all the people. Furthermore, Snow White s characterization in this film is different with Snow White s characterization in classic tale of Snow White. Character of Snow White in classic tale is dominantly portrayed as a weak and a dependent woman. In other side, Snow White in this film is described as a strong woman. She can protect herself from an evil Ravenna. She is also independent woman. Based on description of Ravenna and Snow White s characterization above, it can be interpreted that Ravenna is a woman who has personality traits which opposite with women in general case. Women are one of factors which can determine the nation s fate to be better, but in this film Ravenna is depicted as a woman who can destroy a Kingdom. In addition, Snow White s characterizations in this film contrary with characterization of Snow White in classic tale. Snow White in this film is not a woman who is portrayed always as a weak and a dependent woman. Instead, she is a strong woman that can protect herself and she is an independent woman. However, with exist the binary opposition of Ravenna and Snow White s characterization has encouraged the writer to analyze deeply those characters. In this case, deconstructive becomes an approach which is used to analyze Ravenna and Snow White s characterization. Deconstructive is an approach that can be
3 used to analyze deeply the literary work. It is introduced by a phenomenal philosopher from French namely Jacques Derrida. Eiselin (2006, p. 2) assumes deconstructive is used to find out the binary opposition in a text. In this case, it studies something which is regarded marginal; the discarded, the denigrated, the unessential, the fragment, the subordinate term, the mistake, the frame, the absence or omission, the footnote, the supplement. However, this approach can free us from the constrains of our prejudiced beliefs (Bressler, 1998, p. 130). Commonly, this theory is used to analyze the literary work (Balkin, 1996, p. 1). Nevertheless, tthrough its development by the era, this approach does not be only used in analyzing the literary work but also can be used to analyze the film. Castle (2007, p. 82) says deconstructive would be useful as critical tool or an approach in the analysis of literature, film, and other culture phenomenon. However, it is a cause this research uses this approach to analyze Ravenna and Snow White s characterization s in Snow White and the Huntsman film. It has purpose to find out other s characterization of Ravenna and Snow White from which is analyzed by using deconstructive approach. Methodology. This research employs content analysis as the method of research and deconstructive theory as approach in this research. Balkin (1996, p. 1) stated that deconstructive is an approach which is used for interpreting the literary work. It can be used in analyzing the film.
4 The source of the data in this research is the script of Snow White and the Huntsman film, deconstructive books and website. However, there are two ways to collect the data. There are watching the film and taking note. All the data are composed in data card. Then, all the data is analyzed based on deconstructive reading of a text. It refers to Eiselein s deconstructive reading of a text. Eiselein (2006, p. 2) provides three steps to do a deconstructive reading of a text. 1. In order to analyze their characterization by using deconstructive approach, their characterizations are deeply analyzed by reversing way. 2. The next step is interpreting their characterization by different viewpoint. In this case, the interpretation is different from general case of Ravenna and Snow White s characterizations. 3. The last step is the results of the interpreting are represented in a narrative form. Finding and Discussion. Finding. Analysis of Ravenna s characterization 1. Ravenna is an evil woman. In Snow White and the Huntsman film, Ravenna is depicted as an evil queen. She had deceived the king Magnus by using her dark and mysterious armies. This is narrator s statement which describes about it; Eric : The next winter was the harshest in memory. And Snow White s mother passed away. The king was inconsolable. Taking advantages of his grief Dark and mysterious armies appeared. And lured him into battle (Act, 00:03:15,779 --> 00:03:32,258).
5 Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 2. Ravenna has characteristic as a good woman. After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive analyze, it found that she has some characteristics as a good woman. She is a faithful child to her mother and she very struggles her family s fate. Ravenna becomes a wicked woman because she has a very bad past time. Since she and her brother were children, they had been separated by the King from their mother. Analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 3. Ravenna is a strong woman. Ravenna is depicted as a strong woman. She could take throne of the kingdom and she can protect herself from a man who tries to invade her. There are two statements which show that Ravena as a strong woman: The magic mirror : Yet another kingdom falls to your glory. (Act, 00:12:45,515 --> 00:12:48,999) Ravenna : You would kill your queen? Such courage. Such beauty. But how strong is yours heart? (Act, 00:18:56,052 --> 00:19:08,482). Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 3.1 Ravenna is a weak woman After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she is a weak woman. She becomes a strong woman because she uses the magic power. If her magic power faded, she needed to consume the beauty from the other woman. Ravenna Finn Ravenna Finn : Magic comes at a lofty price. And the expense grows. : you look old. Tired : My power fades. : I have something for what ails you. (Act, 00:20:24,765 --> 00:20:50,754)
6 Analysis of Ravenna s characterization 4. Ravenna is a queen who takes the decision based on her desire and necessity Ravenna takes the decision based on her desire. It could be seen when she took the decision to murder the people in the Kingdom and locked Snow White in tower of the Kingdom. Army : The remnants, my queen. What do we do with them? Ravenna : To the sword. Finn! Lock her up. One never knows when royal blood may be of value. (Act, 00:13:07,620 --> 00:13:31,398). Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 4.1 Ravenna takes decision based on her magic mirror. After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she takes the decision based on her magic mirror. She took the decision to murder the people and locked Snow White in the tower after she asked to the magic mirror about who the fairest was. Ravenna : Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Mirror : It is you, my queen. Yet another kingdom falls to your glory. Is there no end to your power and beauty? (Act, 00:11:52,003 --> 00:12:55,492). Analysis of Snow White s characterization 1. Snow White is a woman who can protect herself. Snow White is a woman who can protect herself. It can be proven when she can invade Finn. At the time, Finn tried to bring her. Ravenna : How is that an innocent young girl makes a fool of my brother? Finn : Armed only with a nail. Ravenna : If she had a sword, she would have taken my kingdom. Bring me the king s daughter. And you let her slip right through your tiny title fingers. (Act,00:33:04,316 --> 00:33:10,915) Deconstructive analysis of Snow White s characterization 1.1 Snow White is a woman who cannot protect herself
7 After Snow White s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive analyze, actually, she cannot protect herself. She could be deceived by Ravenna. Ravenna : The way you led me when we were children. I followed you everywhere. I ran when you call. I would have done anything for you. Snow White : That s not how I remember it. Ravenna : No? Snow White: No. And we used to flight all the time and argue. (Act, 01:30:11,573 --> 01:30:35,893) Analysis of Snow White s characterization. 2. Snow White is an independent woman Snow White is an independent woman. She did not wait the prince to save from the evil queen. Even though, she had initiatived to lead her people for fighting with the evil Ravenna. This is Snow White s statement when she incited the people to invade Ravenna: Snow White : Frost to fire and fire to frost. Iron will meet. But it will writhe inside of itself. All these years all I ve known is darkness. But I have never seen brighter light than when my eyes just opened. And I know that light burns in all of you! Those embers must turn to flame. Iron into sword! I will become your weapon! Forged by the fierce fire that I know in your hearts! For I have seen what she sees. I know what she knows. I can kill her. And I d rather die today than live another day of this death! And who will ride with me? Who will be my brother? (Act, 01:43:21,862 --> 01:43:23,034. Deconstructive analysis of Snow White s characterization 2.1 Snow White is a dependent woman. Snow White is not really as an independent woman. Actually, she depended on the huntsman. Snow White Huntsman Snow White : Where are you going? : Getting away from you. You re trouble, is what you are. : I need to get to the Duke s castle. There s an army there. (Act, 00:42:52,111 --> 00:42:54,864)
8 Discussion Analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 1. Ravenna is an evil woman. Ravenna has known as an evil woman because her characterizations are dominantly acted as a deceiver, a murderer, and a woman who consumes the beauty from other Women. Many people had been deceived by Ravenna such as King Magnus, people in the Kingdom, the Huntsman, and Snow White. Moreover, some of them have died because of Ravenna s crime. Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 1.1 Ravenna has characteristic as a good woman. After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, basically, she has characteristic as a good woman. She becomes an evil woman because she revenges her family s misery. Her family was ever scratched scrap as beggars. Moreover, they had been separated by the king from their mother. When the king separated them, Ravenna s mother screamed and asked Ravenna to revenge their misery. However, as a child, she must fulfill her mother s behest. She is a child who is very faithful to her mother. She has changed her family s fate. Analysis of Ravenna s characterization 2. Ravenna is a strong Woman. In Snow White and the Huntsman film, Ravenna has depicted as a strong Woman. She could take throne of the Kingdom and she could protect herself from a man who tries to invade her.
9 Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 2.1 Ravenna is a weak Woman. After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she is a weak woman. She just used the magic power. However, she did not injure when the man tried to skewer her tight. Analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 3. Ravenna is a queen who takes the decision based on her desire and necessity. Ravenna has taken some decision based on her desire and necessity. The first, she took the decision to murder all the people who left in the kingdom. Second, she took the decision to get Snow White s heart. Deconstructive analysis of Ravenna s characterization. 3.1 Ravenna takes decision based on her magic mirror. After Ravenna s characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, Ravenna takes the decision based on her magic power. It can be proven when she would murder the people who left in the kingdom. Before she took the decision to murder them, she asked to her magic mirror about whom fairest in the Kingdom. In addition, she took the decision to take Snow White s heart based on magic mirror. The magic mirror said that Ravenna shall never need to consume the beauty from the other woman if she could get Snow White s heart. However, Ravenna took the decision to get it. Analysis of Snow White s characterization. 1. Snow White is a woman who can protect herself.
10 Snow White is a woman who can protect herself. When Finn tried to bring Snow White from the prison, she was success to defeat Finn who tries to catch her. She could invade Finn by using a nail and escaped from the Kingdom. Deconstructive analysis of Snow White s characterization. 1.1 Snow White is a woman who cannot protect herself After her characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she cannot protect herself. She is a careless woman. She trusted about Ravenna s statement without any consideration. Actually, Ravenna said something strange to her. Analysis of Snow White s characterization. 2. Snow White is an independent woman Snow White escaped from the Kingdom without anyone s aid. Moreover, Snow White did not wait the prince to save from the evil queen. Even though, she had initiative to lead her people for fighting with her stepmother. Deconstructive analysis of Snow White s characterization. 2.1 Snow White is a dependent woman. After her characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she is a dependent woman. She was success from Finn s prey because she had been helped by the Huntsman. In addition, seven dwarfs had safeguarded her from Finn and his armies. They safeguarded Snow White in sanctuary or the home of the fairies. Moreover, Snow White could invade Ravenna and to be a queen because she had been helped by the people.
11 Conclusion. There are several Ravenna and Snow White s characterizations which exist in Snow White and the Huntsman film. The first, Ravenna is an evil woman. She is a deceiver and murder. Second, she is a strong woman. Third, she is a woman who takes decision based on her desire and necessity. Nevertheless, after her characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, there are other characterizations of Ravenna. The first, she is not an evil woman as which have elaborated previously. Basically, she has characteristic as a good woman. Second, she is a weak woman. Third, she takes the decision based on her magic mirror. Her magic mirror is one of her consideration for taking the decision. Furthermore, Snow White is a woman who can protect herself and she is an independent woman. However, after her characterization is analyzed by using deconstructive approach, actually, she is a woman who cannot protect herself and she is a dependent woman. Actually, she depends on the Huntsman, seven dwarfs, and the people in Duke s castle. Reference Balkin, J. M. (1996). Deconstruction. Copyright 1995-1996 by Jack.M. Balkin. All Rights Reserved. Retrieved March 9, 2013, from http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/jbalkin/articles/deconessay.pdf. Bressler, C. (1998). Literary Criticism. USA: Houghton college. Carter, D. (2006). Literary Theory. Harpenden: Pocket Essential. Castle, G. (2007). The Blackwell Guide to Literary Work. Australia: Blackwell publishing. Eiselein, G.(2006). Deconstructive Analysis. ENGL 795 Literary Criticism. Retrieved December 20, 2013 from https://www.k-state.edu/.../decon.pdf
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